EMPEROR
BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2018
EMPEROR
Playing: Friday, 10th August 2018

Stage: Ronnie James Dio Stage

BAND PHOTO GALLERY
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Eventually there comes a time when the hype about a band becomes superfluous, and their status alone speaks volumes. Such is the case with Emperor, the black metal gods hailing from Telemark, Norway. Emperor has become known as one of the originators of symphonic Black… More Metal that Norway is internationally renowned for. Their cult album “In the Nightside Eclipse” has been ranked among albums like Slayer’s “Reign in Blood” and Venom’s “Black Metal” as a definitive masterpiece of our time.

Beginning life as a trio in the spring of '91 with Samoth (drums), Ihsahn (guitar/vocals) and Mortiis (bass), the band quickly recorded and circulated the now legendary "Wrath of the Tyrant" demo. It was this demo that brought them to the attention of the then still-fledgling Candlelight record label. A deal was inked, Samoth moved to guitar and Bard Faust was recruited for the now vacant drum stool. By the end of 1992, the band had recorded their half of the "Emperor / Enslaved" split CD which surfaced early the following year. Mortiis departed, and was later replaced by Tchort.

The press response was justifiably excellent and by the summer of '93 Emperor were recording once more, this time working on their debut full-length album "In the Nightside Eclipse". By the time of the albums release in 1994 they had become without a doubt one of the most important bands in the genre, gathering worldwide critical acclaim and a rabid fan base to match.

In autumn of '93 a series of headline-grabbing events took place, which lead to turbulence within the scene, causing Emperor to suffer some instability within the bands line-up. Despite these events, the entity of Emperor would come out even stronger in the end. Eventually a new permanent line-up was announced. Alver had replaced Tchort on bass, and Trym (ex. Enslaved) had replaced Faust on drums. The bones of what would become their most epic and majestic material to date were taking shape.

By the end of '96, now fully prepared and rehearsed, they went back into the studio. First the "Reverence" EP announced their return to the fold, followed up in early '97 with what is without doubt one of the most ambitious and important black metal releases to date..."Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk,” an album of epic savagery! Not only beautiful, but bestial in it's wide ranging scope. The press agreed. Not only was "Anthems.." featured in almost every "album of the year poll" across the globe, but actually won the album of the year in both Terrorizer (UK) and Metal Maniacs (USA).

Since the release of the genr Less